I am currently working for a real estate agent and I've been setting him up with social media sites. He had a website before I started working with him but I feel feel it's a little rinky-dink for his profession.

Are there any "tricks" to get the very best Search Engine Optimization? My employer thinks because he's had a website for 5 months now and has numerous social media sites that we are "blogging" to weekly or more that he should come up first when someone Googles "houses for sale in _________(enter our city)".

I've tried to explain that things don't necessarily happen that quickly but I am getting frustrated listening to him complain that what's been done so far isn't enough.

HELP! :)

It's about having the correct keywords in your content and your metadata. You also need a good link strategy (link reciprocity with highly ranked sites). Google Analytics would help you, install it on the site.

There are several aspects to SEO besides hitting the social media sites. I have put together a little check list that I use for SEO, if you like I can send you a copy. Just remember, much of this takes time and it is not guaranteed. This document just helps the process a little.

I understand the SEO is complicated. If you wouldn't mind sending me your check list Info, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks to you both!

I agree with the two previous answers. I would add that depending on the region for which You are trying to gain more "google populartiy" or a higher Google Rank the difficulty of successfully accomplishing this task would range. Therefor if the website is listing real estates in a not so densely populated area, one could achieve pretty good results in a matter of weeks by following a good check list and performing the tasks in it.
However, if the website is lets say about real estate in New York's Manhattan, then I am pretty sure You will need to get professional help. Because of the many aspects of SEO, it introduced or at least increased highly the need of professions like "Copy Writer". With simple words, these are people that write content, especially constructed for the needs of a better SEO. Bottom line is that often big businesses hire whole teams/ agencies to manage the optimization process of a website (which, in my opinion is why there is often a lot of non sense on the web) .So, You would have a little, probably no chance of success for www.manhattanrealestateexample.com if You are just getting confident with the SEO issues, especially if You're playing by your self; You just can't do the work that 5 other people (or probably more) would do.
I hope that helps.
Ivan